The 700 block of Wilmington’s Dawson Avenue is not usually a hotspot for superstar sightings.
On Wednesday morning, nonetheless, passers-by with a eager eye for stars of Seventies and ’80s TV would’ve seen one Erik Estrada − best-known for enjoying California Freeway Patrol Officer Frank “Ponch” Poncherello from 1977 to 1983 on the NBC cops present “CHiPs” − hanging out and capturing the breeze whereas he waited to movie scenes for a religious- and community-themed house enchancment present known as “Divine Renovations.”
Flashing that well-known, high-wattage smile behind aviator sun shades and carrying all white, together with some candy grey lace-ups, Estrada was additionally rocking a crimson suede vest monogrammed together with his initials, EE.
“That is in case I get misplaced,” the gregarious Estrada joked to all inside earshot, a gaggle that included Wilmington Mayor Invoice Saffo. Estrada then gave a shout-out to iconic Wilmington restaurant Winnie’s on Burnett Boulevard, which glad his yearning for a cheeseburger the primary night time he was on the town.
“I got here out to welcome him to Wilmington, thank him for doing this outreach into the group,” Saffo stated, earlier than including, “I put on aviator sun shades due to this man.”
Estrada and Saffo have been standing in entrance of the house of Arleashoan Davis and her son, 15-year-old Hoggard Excessive Faculty pupil Stacshawn, who had simply woken up a couple of minutes earlier than a movie crew arrived.
“It is a blessing to get assist with the home,” Davis stated.
Monty Hobbs of Heartlight Leisure, together with Valerie Smaldone and Matthieu Chazareix, is a producer of “Divine Renovations.”
As staff from the VineDresser landscaping service labored on the Davis’ yard and volunteers painted their porch, Hobbs, a longtime employee in Wilmington’s movie trade, walked by means of a weedy yard the place a time-lapse digicam was arrange. He confirmed the place new patio furnishings and a basketball objective would go. Volunteers additionally deliberate on pressure-washing the home and doing different enhancements.
“Divine Renovations” is capturing segments with Estrada and numerous Wilmington-area households in want at places together with Life Church, St. James AME Church and Residing Water Ministries in Wilmington.
Hobbs stated the present recognized Davis, who has been homeless previously, by means of Wilmington teams Household Promise of the Decrease Cape Concern, which assists households which have struggled with homelessness, and Catholic Charities.
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Anne Greatest with Household Promise, which owns the house the Davises live in, was on the “Divine Enhancements” set Wednesday, as was Vickie Sasser with Catholic Charities.
“That is the great things” the group will get to do, Sasser stated, standing subsequent to a beaming Davis in her small however neat front room, which is adorned with photos and spiritual paraphernalia.
Producer Hobbs stated he met Estrada at a conference a number of years in the past they usually’ve mentioned working collectively for a while. Now that Estrada’s in Wilmington, capturing will likely be performed by early October, even with shedding a day or two of labor to Hurricane Ian.
“We have been speaking about it for months,” Estrada stated.
Because the actor stood on the sidewalk exterior the Davises’ house, he started speaking about his childhood rising up in New York Metropolis’s closely Puerto Rican East Harlem group. Estrada stated his father turned hooked on medication, so his mom kicked his dad out when Estrada was simply 4. The primary man his mother began courting after she break up from his father was a cop, and that turned Estrada’s dream job.
“I keep in mind his badge,” Estrada stated. “It was gold.”
Earlier than he bought an opportunity to change into a police officer, nonetheless, “I bought bit by the (performing) bug.”
After showing on such iconic ’70s exhibits as “Hawaii 5-O,” “Emergency!,” “Mannix,” “Kojak,” “Police Lady,” “Barnaby Jones,” “Baretta” and “The Six Million Greenback Man,” he lastly landed his dream job, in a means, enjoying a cop on “CHiPs” and incomes a Golden Globe nomination for his work. (Regardless of a really lengthy checklist of credit, “Divine Renovations” is the very first thing he is shot in Wilmington.)
“I used to be chasing the cash,” Estrada stated, however he was capable of get his mother out of Harlem.
Standing on Dawson Avenue, Estrada stated he noticed some commonalities together with his scenario rising up with a single mother and that of the Davises.
“I used to be identical to these people right here right now,” he stated.
And whereas he usually will get work on such modern exhibits as “Cobra Kai” and the animated “Journey Time with Finn and Jake,” he stated he prefers to work on tasks that provide some kind of social profit.
“It is bought to do one thing,” he stated. “I owe it” to individuals to present again. “I really feel blessed and fortunate.”
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“Divine Renovations” producer Chazareix, who’s from France, stated the entire level of “Divine Renovations” is “giving again to society” and “unfold(ing) a message of affection.”
The concept is for the present to air on a non secular or faith-based community someday subsequent yr, however the place it would wind up is not recognized but.
“We have to end the edits after which we’ll see,” Chazareix stated, including that he feels good concerning the present’s future as a result of “we have some star energy.”
Requested whether or not he is a non secular or a religious particular person, Estrada stated, “There’s someone up there larger than me, larger than me, stronger than me.”
All of us have “God in ourselves,” he added, “as a result of we have been made in His likeness.”
Whereas Estrada was ready for capturing to start, Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams walked up and commenced to speaking to the actor. Normally, Williams is stone-faced and really critical. However because the chief talked with Estrada, the chief’s face lit up and he started smiling like a little bit child.
Contact John Staton at 910-343-2343 or [email protected].
